Hearing for Three Firefighters to Continue by PETER CURRIER Closed Last Tuesday
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The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 297 Hearing for three firefighters to continue By PETER CURRIER closed last Tuesday. was presented that the com- the hearing be made open to that took place between April on the matter, saying that, “the Staff Writer They had waived the execu- mission had not previously the public, they would have 2 and June 5 of 2018. The City does not comment on WESTFIELD — The hear- tive session for another hear- heard. had to have sent a letter hearing follows a recommen- pending personnel matters.” ing for the three firefighters ing at Little River Fire Station “There was a lot of informa- requesting so ahead of time. dation of termination of the In a past Fire Commission being accused of tarnishing late last month in which the tion coming forth. This is real- As of Friday, the Fire three firefighters sent to each meeting in March where the the name of a superior officer firefighters went into greater ly the first time this commis- Commission had received no Fire Commission on Nov. 18 two of the three firefighters will continue at 9 a.m. Dec. 18 detail about the case itself and sion got the in-depth details such letter. They had not by Deputy Chief Andy Hart. were present, they claimed at City Hall in what is likely to their accusations against Fire about the situation,” said received a letter ahead of the In the open session hearing on that they had been the victims be a closed session. Chief Patrick Egloff. Masciadrelli, “By continuing first part of the hearing either. Nov. 25, the firefighters and of harassment by some of Fire Captain Rebecca Fire Commission Chair the hearing it gives us a chance “In terms of the way we their attorneys claimed that their fellow firefighters in the Boutin and Firefighters Kyle Albert Masciadrelli said that to sit back and process every- expected to go, we thought it they had not been made aware department. Boutin and Miltimore and David Kennedy he is uncertain if the issue will thing we have heard.” would be better for it to remain of the letter until that moment. Miltimore specifically will go back before the Fire be resolved at Wednesday’s Masciadrelli had main- closed,” said Attorney During that same hearing, detailed an incident in which Commission after a four hour hearing or if it will have to tained up until this point that Boutin read out a statement on Maurice Cahillane, who has they discovered pictures of closed hearing Dec. 10 did not continue again. He was not the commission had been behalf of all three of the fire- been the legal counsel for the themselves in the fire depart- yield any sort of result. The permitted to give much detail largely shielded from the facts fighters, which can be read in firefighters and their attorneys about what was said during of the case itself. three firefighters in this case. the Nov. 26 edition of The ment’s common area that had had requested that the execu- the closed hearing, but he Masciadrelli noted that if The hearing is specifically Westfield News. been altered to depict them as tive session hearing remain noted that a lot of information the firefighters wished to have in relation to an investigation Egloff has not commented decapitated. From ‘Jaws’ to laws: Humason interviewed by Paper Mill students By HOPE wanted to be a police officer.” budget is in line, and I want to E. TREMBLAY A chance encounter with make sure Westfield is a safe Assistant Managing Editor law enforcement led him to community to live in and to WESTFIELD — State Sen. Westfield District Court drive through.” Donald F. Humason Jr., the where he ended up working After the interview, city’s mayor-elect, has been as a security officer. This Humason said he was fielding questions from jour- introduced him to the politics impressed with the Paper Mill nalists across the state recent- behind laws and when former journalists. ly, but none as interesting as state Rep. Michael R. Knapik “This was great,” he said. those asked by Paper Mill asked Humason to join his “The students were all so Elementary School’s second- team of aides, Humason engaged. I’ve always found grade reporters, he said. jumped into politics and that when talking to kids, they Students in Kathleen never looked back. ask better questions than Knapik’s class interviewed He told students when adults – they have no filter Humason for more than an Knapik became the senator, and they are honest.” hour last week as part of the Humason ran for, and won, Below are some of the Westfield Education to his representative seat. He ledes and headlines created Business Alliance Adopt-a- then won Knapik’s senate by the second graders follow- Classroom partnership with seat when he resigned. For ing the session with narrative The Westfield News. nearly two decades Humason from Knapik: Students have been work- has represented residents of Yeray Amaro Gonzalez: ing with newspaper staff and western Massachusetts at the Humason Stops Texting! Knapik on interviewing and State House in Boston, but Yeray asked Humason note-taking skills. The stu- now he wants to work hard about his most important law, dents conducted research on for his fellow Westfield resi- he responded with several, Humason and created their dents as mayor. including the hands-free driv- own questions ahead of the Students asked why he ran ing law. Yeray wrote this interview. Following the for mayor. headline because she felt it interview, students hosted “I love Westfield,” he said, was funny and interesting … Westfield News Editor Hope “I was born at Noble Hospital, people would read her article Donald F. Humason Jr. speaks to students at Paper Mill Elementary School as teacher Tremblay for a “professional I grew up here and I want to because they don’t know Kathleen Knapik takes notes as part of the Westfield Education to Business Alliance Adopt-a- working lunch” where they help people in Westfield. whether he’s not texting any- Classroom project with The Westfield News. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay) ate lunch together and worked And, I want to be close to more or whether he’s not let- on ledes and brainstormed home to be with my wife and ting other people text any- Humason played an impor- Emilee Buoniconti: Senator Don Humason vis- headlines, including the head- son.” more, and then they’d learn tant role in the renovation and Humason ? Westfield ited Paper Mill School on line for this article. One student asked about his law. building of the two bridges, Emilee wrote this headline Wednesday and talked with They asked some hard-hit- Humason’s favorite movie Kamila Rivera: How and as mayor his goal is to because it represents second graders about every- ting questions, including what (“Jaws”) and book (“The Humason Helps build bridges – relationships Humason ‘s motivation for thing from his favorite movie bills did Humason support Lord of the Rings”). Another Kamila asked Humason – with other city officials and wanting to be mayor, her arti- “Jaws” to the favorite laws he that did not become law, as asked if he has pets (he does about how he helps people with state officials, etc. cle will be about the many wrote as a State Senator. well as some fun questions not). One student asked about and he gave several exam- Benjamin McEwan: different reasons he has for Lauren Deauseault: about Humason’s interests Humason’s top goals as ples. Kamila likes her head- Mayor Cares About Westfield wanting to be in government Acting Helped Humason in outside of politics. mayor, to which Humason line because it uses allitera- Ben wrote this headline – serving his community, Politics Humason told the young paused before answering. tion – repeated use of the first because it explains how helping people, etc. Emilee Soon-to-be Mayor Don journalists that he attended “I don’t know if I have a letter of each word! Great Humason wants to help peo- has seen his button with the I Humason says his acting and Westfield State University – top goal yet,” he said. “I have second grade skill! ple and serve the community ? Westfield slogan so she singing career prepared him then College – as a Criminal a lot of goals. I want to work Dustin Piper: Humason and because “Mayor and care thought people would con- for politics. Don Humason Justice major. with the City Council and Builds Bridges for Westfield are rhyming words so this is nect to that. visited Paper Mill School on “I never thought I would do School Committee and other Dustin likes this headline the perfect headline.” Exact Mackenzie St. Peter: this for a living,” he said. “I departments to make sure our because it has two meanings: quote from Ben! From Jaws to Laws See Humason, Page 2 Huntington residents decorate gingerbread houses By AMY PORTER houses were provided, along activity every year. “It’s my Staff Writer with frosting, candy, pretzels favorite thing to do,” admit- HUNTINGTON – Local and ice cream cones (to use ted Alice. residents took a break from for trees or “unicorn horns”) Felina Knachel, 9 and the holiday bustle Dec. 15 to on the colorful projects.